Tory Candidate's Comments Prove They Are Not Serious About The Environment (West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats)

West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats <contact.us@westworcslibdems.org.uk>

Tory Candidate's Comments Prove They Are Not Serious About The Environment

September 20, 2006 7:46 PM

West Worcestershire's Lib Dem candidate, Richard Burt, today praised his party's green tax switch policies approved at their Brighton Conference yesterday, and reacted to comments from his Conservative opponent, saying they proved that the Tories were not serious about the environment.

Richard Burt said: "If we do not take a lead in tackling CO2 emissions head on, global warming will bring climate chaos within the next 30 years, even earlier than scientists originally predicted.

"Harriet Baldwin's comments are inaccurate and misleading. She claims that "road tax" will be increased, yet our proposals are to increase Vehicle Excise Duty on new vehicles only. Taxing the worst gas guzzlers up to £2000 to help change people's driving habits.

"Her Leader claims to be concerned about the environment, but the Conservatives have no policies to tackle global warming. If we do not index the Climate Change Levy on fuel costs with allowances for essential rural car users, which Mrs Baldwin clearly believes is a bad thing, how are we going change people's habits and reduce damaging CO2 emissions?

"By switching to green taxation and funding a 2p cut in income tax, lower and middle income earners will be better off, and the worst polluters will pay more.

"Mrs Baldwin has shown that she is no 'Tree Hugging Tory' and that she is part of the problem faced by her leader as he tries to shift from his own party's traditional opposition to green policies."